Updated 8/ 19--Militia/technical gun truck /Africa added jungle foliage

Model Maniac wrote:

So far so good, Ian. I assume this is 1/35 scale. What about the pick up truck? is it available in this scale? I want one or two.

The only 1/35 civilian vehicles are a few expensive resin ones. The best option is to get a 1/32 scale civilian vehicle. There are quite a few that were produced by Monogram in the late '80s to early '90s that will work. The 1/32 is close enough to 1/35 to work. I have used them many times.

Thanks!  I will probably paint it white to give it even more of a civlian look than the oliveish greenish or the tan, and if I'm comfortable enough with my airbrushing skills, might try to make it look as though someone has spraypainted writing on the sides of it using the tiny litle attachment my airbrush came with.

EDIT: the gun I plan to use will be a Soviet 12.7mm Dshk anti air gun.  I've seen these used in a few reference pictures.  Anyone with links or pictures of Technical rucks would be very appreciated, thanks, Ian.

Something like these:

Not a big update, but since I can't start my groundwork until I obtain the vehicle itself (So I can add tire tracks) I've been working on the individual elements of the diorama so they can be arranged however I like hen it finally is time to start my groundwork.  Anyways, I've started scratchbuilding a small building.  There will later be a small second story from which a clothesline will hang across the road to a telephone pole.  Atleast, thats how I want it.

 I'm keeping a low budget, since scratchbuilding is fun, so everything used is just household objects.

anyways, a couple pictures:

The very begining stages of a building, made of cardboard, long matchsticks, and wall spackle (compound filler or something):

And the door, made of cut up popsicle sticks, with the grain scribed into them with a hobby knife.  The door handle is just a tiny plastic piece left over from some kit:

Ian,

It's been a while since I saw your last work.  How have you been?  Your progess so far looks good.

Gino,

Did you move to Fort Hood TX or just doing your TDY assignment for the summer? 

m1garand wrote:

Gino, Did you move to Fort Hood TX or just doing your TDY assignment for the summer?

Yup PCSed to Hood.  We just arrived last week and just got back on line a few days ago.  We are almost done unpacking and getting settled in.  I plan on having the modeling room unpacked and set up by this weekend.  Wish me luck.

IanIsBored2000 wrote:

Not a big update, but since I can't start my groundwork until I obtain the vehicle itself (So I can add tire tracks) I've been working on the individual elements of the diorama so they can be arranged however I like hen it finally is time to start my groundwork.  Anyways, I've started scratchbuilding a small building.  There will later be a small second story from which a clothesline will hang across the road to a telephone pole.  Atleast, thats how I want it.  I'm keeping a low budget, since scratchbuilding is fun, so everything used is just household objects. anyways, a couple pictures: The very begining stages of a building, made of cardboard, long matchsticks, and wall spackle (compound filler or something): And the door, made of cut up popsicle sticks, with the grain scribed into them with a hobby knife.  The door handle is just a tiny plastic piece left over from some kit:

    When placing a building or vehicle on a dio base, it's generally a better idea to skew the placement of it so that the parallel lines of the building or vehicle do NOT match the parallel lines of the edge of the base. It makes for a far more interesting perspective--I dont know exactly why--but maybe when you place your truck down on this base you should try to have it sitting at an angle to the building--otherwise everything is gonna be absolutely straight to the edges of the base, which is going to look.....uh,...too straight...

HeavyArty wrote:

Yup PCSed to Hood.  We just arrived last week and just got back on line a few days ago ... Wish me luck.

Luck in all things, then!

Y'all be careful over by the River now, y'hear?  It's not usually quite that full, and it's making people nervous no end.  (Not least of which being some of the NROP folk I know.)

It's 89NM LoS over to Hood from here, but about 150-175 miles of river--but, at the 7-8kt is was running yesterday, it is not nice conditions at all.

So be safe over there, ok?  The Reservation is a big place, with some geopgraphy that goes from sugar, to ah, well, ah, what it goes to, far too fast.

Well it's summer meaning us kids have nothing to do for months (sorry,  had to brag a little, then again atleast you guys don't have Drivers-ed and algebra II: Trigonometry and Lab Bio to look forward to in August ) Anyways, I've had modelling fever and haven't done much other than that the last three days.  Still a long way to go. It's raining now so I cant take outside photos.  I'm gonna take a trip to the local beach and grab some sand too to start groundwork, but that might have to wait until tomorow.

I'm trying not to spend a penny on this diorama other than figures and vehicles, so everything is scratchbuilt from stuf fI've found in my basement.  I was too cheap for balsawood so I rocked it old school and made all the wooden parts out of popsicle sticks, some matchsticks tha tloooked like they were on steroids, part of a clementines box.  The house is old legos covered in wall spackle.  The palm tree is Lead foil leaves with tissue paper and glue over a barbecue skewer (sp?) wrapped in string.  I put some propaganda posters and graffitti on the house to make it look a litle more...I don't know but i think it fits the look I'm going for.  I'm still working on adding little details that make the difference between just a diorama and a miniature world, but most of those like newspapers and a broken bicycle will have to wait until the groundwork is done.

Whew that was a lot! anyways, heres the pictures:

Overall diorama..The BTR-152E is just there for scale.  The real vehicle won't be as big so it will look less cramped, but i still want that narrow alley look.

The unfinished house:

And another shot of the palm tree and the house...the tree looks MUCH better in real life.

Thats it for now, any comments, constructive criticism would be great

For what its worth I did a similar "technical" but based it in Gaza.  Finding a vehicle was a problem in the end I went with a Jeep Wrangler! But I think a Landrover would be better and a Toyota spot on!

Ian

 Here is an actual Technical in Mogadishu

Doog--Thanks! I'm painting the heads right now.  It's my first dive into AM figure parts and the first pieces of resin I've ever touched and I'm hooked.  The detail is outstanding and you can find some things (like modern African soldiers) that you would NEVER get in plastic.

Edorc--I love the technical! I love the position of the gunner kind of hanging off the back of the truck.  Thanks for th epicture of the technical, the more reference the better, but one nice thing about the figures and vehicle I'm modelling is that anything goes, so I get some freedom when building stuff. 

To anyone still with me--  I've been a busy little modeller and been working on the diorama, technical and figures.  The yellowish looking paper on the house and clothesline will be painted to look like tarps and fabric, it just looks weird for now.  Also, my 'rubble' didn't come out how I wanted, more like rocks so it ill be hidden by trsh, planks, more corrugated metal sheets, that kind of stuff. 

Most of what is left is just adding trash, newspapers, an old bicycle, just stuff to make it look more like a slum, and of course the other few figures.

I'll have lots more pictures when it nears completeon.

Looking really nice!  I think that Landie bears a bit of a likeness to mine!!

 What do you think?

Ahh that's awesome man!!  My dad and I are restoring a 1950 buick special we got down the road for $500 and I'm startin' to appreciate the classics a bit more.  Wouldn't be suprised if my Buick weighed half as uch as some of those tanks you see on these forums though.  I don't even legally need seatbelts in it, that's pretty old.  Nice 'Rover though, and it will be helpful for details like tail light color.  Thanks!

Here she is...after getting on the subject, couldn't help imagining this thing as atechnical